Agenda and minutes

            Apologies were reported on behalf of the High Sherriff (Alderman L. Patterson), Alderman M. Campbell and Councillors Carson, Cunningham and Curran.

            Alderman Rodgers declared an interest in respect of an item 11 on the Schedule of Applications which had been submitted by the Belfast Education and Library Board.  He pointed out that he was member of that Board.

            It was noted that no requests for deputations had been received.

The Committee noted the following correspondence which had been received from the various statutory bodies and agencies:

Roads Service – Transport NI

·        Notification of changes to waiting restrictions on Baltic Avenue

·        Notification of changes to waiting restrictions on Clifton Street

·        Notification of changes to waiting restrictions on the Crumlin Road

·        Notification of changes to waiting restrictions on Massey Avenue

·        Notification of changes to waiting restrictions on the Wandsworth Road

·        Notification of changes to waiting restrictions on Woodstock Place

·        Notification of changes to waiting restrictions on Balfour Avenue

·        Notification of changes to waiting restrictions on Durham Street

·        Notification of changes to waiting restrictions on Tomb Street

·        Notification of provision of blue badge parking bay at 19 Fernwood Street

·        Notification of provision of blue badge parking bay at 59 Oberon Street

·        Notification of provision of blue badge parking bay at 49 Fairhill Park

Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Notification of the extension of Listed Building Status to the undernoted properties:

·        Wetherspoons, The Bridge House, 35-37 Bedford Street

·        2/6 Bradbury Place, Shaftesbury Square

·        May Street Presbyterian Church

·        Belfast School of Music, 99 Donegall Pass

·        BBC Broadcasting House, Ormeau Avenue

·        St. Martin’s Church of Ireland, Kenilworth Place

·        Ulster Hall, Bedford Street

·        Hatfield House Bar, 130 Ormeau Road

·        The Grand Opera House

·        St. Mary Magdalene, Donegall Pass

·        56-70 Donegall Pass

·        St. Malachy’s Church, 24 Alfred Street

·        Albert Bridge, Albertbridge Road/East Bridge Street

·        St. Malachy’s Presbytery, 24 Alfred Street

·        Alfred House, 19-21 Alfred Street

·        St. Malachy’s Convent, Sussex Place

·        St Malachy’s Primary School, Sussex Place

            The Democratic Services Officer outlined the principal aspects of correspondence which had been received from Transport NI seeking the Council’s views on the introduction of a 20mph speed limit within the city centre.

            He indicated that the proposed scheme would operate on a pilot basis and an evaluation on its outcome would be undertaken at its conclusion. The rationale behind the proposal, he reported, was primarily to enhance road safety within the city centre and promote further the use of public transport and cycling. He added that the Development Committee, at its meeting on 19th August, would consider a report which would address the wider implications of the reduction to the speed limit.

            The Committee made the following points in respect of the proposed reduction:

·        That the timescale which Transport NI had permitted for consultation on the proposals had been somewhat limited;

·        That it remained unclear how the speed limit would be enforced within the city centre; and

·        That the future requirements of car users should be considered in conjunction with cyclists and public transport.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            The Committee noted a list of new planning applications which had been received by the Planning Service from 1st July till 28th July 2014.

            The Committee noted a list of decisions which had been issued by the Planning Service between 10th June and 29th July under the streamlined planning process.

            The Committee noted the list of deferred items which were under consideration by the Planning Service.

            The Committee noted the outcome of a number of recent planning appeals.

            The Committee noted that applications relating to 247 Falls Road and 43 Knockbreda Road had been withdrawn from the schedule at the request of the applicants.

            The Committee considered further the undernoted planning applications and adopted the recommendations of the Divisional Planning Manager thereon:

Land adjacent to                                       Proposed 2 storey dwelling               Approval

15 Osborne Park

Belfast City Hospital                                 New plant room                                Approval

Belfast Health and                                    water storage tanks

Social Care Trust

Land adjacent to                                       Erection of dwelling                          Approval

42 Belmont Church Road

18 Irwin Avenue                                        Change of use of existing                 Approval

FR Ventures Ltd.                                       residential property to

                                                                  provide a house in multiple

                                                                  occupancy for 6 bedrooms

            The Committee considered the schedule of planning applications which had been submitted by the Divisional Planning Manager in respect of the Council area and agreed to adopt the recommendations contained therein, with the exception of those referred to below: